The Idea of America on Turner Classic Movies Fridays in September

In the movie Twenty Bucks (1993), the character Jack Holiday (George Morfogen) discussed how he bought a pack of gum every day while working on a boat in order to immigrate to the United States. He had seen a movie starring Richard Widmark in which Mr. Widmark chewed a lot of gum, and he thought that if he chewed enough gum he would emerge from the boat a full-fledged American. The theme of The Idea of America is how various immigrants' images of the United States were shaped by the movies they saw while they were young. The Idea of America airs on Friday, September 9 2022 on TCM and the following two Fridays.

For each movie host Ben Mankiewicz is joined by someone who immigrated to the United States, each of who will discuss a particular movie and how it shaped their idea of the country before they immigrated, and how that image compares to the reality they have experienced since they immigrated. The Idea of America was developed by Hemrami Vyas, who is the assistant manager of programming for TCM. She is also one of the guests and will introduce To Hell and Back (1955) with Ben Mankiewicz. She is Indian and descent and immigrated to the United States from Nairobi, Kenya.

Vera Petrovic will introduce Holiday Affair (1949). She was born in Sabac, Yugoslavia and earned her law degree in Belgrade before moving to the U.S. with her husband. Ali Esefam will introduce Cool Hand Luke (1967). She grew up in in São Paulo, Brazil where she studied architecture and urbanism. She is currently the vice president of planning and design at a public relations firm that specializes in community outreach. Gabriel Britton will introduce Splendor in the Grass (1961). He immigrated from Marrakesh, Morocco and is currently Professor Emeritus of environmental engineering at the University of Florida. Ash Nega will introduce The Champ (1979). He immigrated from Ethiopia and operates Desta Ethiopian Kitchen in Atlanta, Georgia. Desta Ethiopian Kitchen has two locations. Crystal Lee will introduce Love Story (1970). She immigrated from Seoul, South Korea. She is an actress who also practises law. Ted Ayllón will introduce Higher and Higher (1943). He immigrated from Bolivia and holds a PhD in psychology. He taught at Wesleyan University for 30 years. Abdi Iftin will introduce Badlands (1973). He immigrated from Mogadishu, Somalia. He is the author of the memoir Call Me American. Sushma Barakoti will introduce To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

Below is the schedule for The Idea of America on TCM. All times are Central.

Friday, September 9
7:00 PM To Hell and Back (1955)
9:00 PM Holiday Affair (1949)
10:45 PM Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Friday, September 16
7:00 PM Splendor in the Grass (1961)
9:30 PM The Champ (1979)
11:45 PM Love Story (1970)

Friday, September 22
7:00 PM Higher and Higher (1943)
9:00 PM Badlands (1973)
11:00 PM To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)